Praiseworthy: Jan. 14, 2013: Branciforte thanks you for support

Thank you for helping to strongly support the fundraising efforts at Branciforte Middle School. We are close to our goal of raising money for new computers and software for our Media Lab and appreciate the shoutout to graduates and alumni. We are hoping that with their help and others in the community we will be able to meet our goal. It definitely takes a village.

Kathy Ferraro, Santa Cruz

Serving our schools and community

On behalf of the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District, we would like to thank Matt Ryan, program director for Athletics Training Department, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF), Santa Cruz and Greg Vandervoort, engineer/paramedic for Scotts Valley Fire Protection District, for providing the Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) that we now have in our high school and middle school gyms. Having these machines readily available in our schools will provide an invaluable lifesaving tool in the event of a heart attack.

We would also like to thank our local fire departments: Scotts Valley, Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Felton and Zayante for providing training to our school staff and coaches in AED, First Aid and CPR. Their professionalism and dedication in support of our schools is greatly appreciated.

Karen van Putten, Jeff Calden, Debbie Ruskin, Mark Mercer

SC Warriors basketball first-rate

This Warriors thing is really something. I haven't seen people this jazzed about anything since Pete Newell's Santa Cruz High Cardinals' joy ride to the state championship. The arena is cool, the basketball is first-rate and the experience is thoroughly enjoyable.

Thank you Jim Weyermann's Warriors, the Seaside Company, the mayor and City Council, and especially city staff whose enthusiasm, creativity and professionalism has resulted in this wonderful attraction. I'm thankful for your hard work and proud of what you've accomplished. You've enhanced our reputation as a city where unique and exciting things happen.

I have one request from my fellow gym rats: when the players are playing, we'd like to hear sneakers squeaking.

Go Warriors!

Larry Pearson, Santa Cruz

Progress made at river levee

I'd like to send out a belated thanks to the SCPD, Public Works Department and the First Alarm security patrols for the dramatic improvement they have made to the San Lorenzo River levee area.

I bike and walk there frequently and can't believe how dramatic the change has been over the past few months. The sketchy people loitering there have been greatly diminished and are vastly outnumbered by people recreating.

So I would encourage folks who have been avoiding the area to come out and enjoy the levee. So much progress has been made, let's keep it going.

Bob Elledge, Santa Cruz

Dance party a night of fun

The photo of special-needs young adults having a dance party in a recent Sentinel just captured the spirit perfectly. They got to have a night of unbridled fun.

Many thanks to Becka York and Drea Batteast for organizing the event, and to others who helped, including but not limited to Sarah Curry, Curtis Cannizarro and Brittany Miller Fullerton.